Approximately 75% of the new Specialized Health Training (FSE) positions –commonly referred to as the MIR– available in the Canary Islands this year will be allocated to enhance the workforce focused on mental health. In total, out of the 24 new accredited positions sanctioned by the Ministry of Health, 18 will be aimed at training doctors, nurses, or psychologists to address this critical health issue.
This Saturday, the eagerly awaited MIR examinations will take place, with the results playing a crucial role in determining access to one of the 11,943 positions across 46 health specialties available throughout Spain. Canary Islands provides 460 of these total opportunities, marking a 5.5% increase in training places from the previous year, nearly double the national average of 2.9%.
Out of the total new positions, 13 are designated for medical specialties, 8 for nursing, and 6 for psychology. Conversely, there has been a loss of two pharmacy positions and the sole chemistry position available last year. Notably, the increase in posts is most prominent in the field of Psychology, where the provision has effectively doubled. In just one year, Mental Health Units in Gran Canaria and Tenerife have successfully broadened their training opportunities. Specifically, Gran Canaria has increased its offerings from two to six, while Tenerife has raised its from two to four.
This commitment to mental health is also reflected in the rise of job openings within Nursing. Of the eight new positions, seven are within this sector. Gran Canaria has gained two additional spots (increasing from five to seven), and Tenerife has added five more after obtaining accreditation for the Santa Cruz Mental Health Unit, allowing for the residency of five more nurses – previously, only the La Laguna Unit provided this training. Consequently, Tenerife’s total for mental health nursing has risen from five to ten. The remaining position pertains to a paediatric nursing role for Lanzarote.
Lastly, out of the 13 new positions for medical specialties, five will focus on training professionals in Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry. Therefore, Gran Canaria will develop two new residents in this division of mental health – from a total of seven – while Tenerife will provide similar training for three new residents – also out of seven.
The HUC, the main beneficiary
Medicine is also expanding opportunities in various specialties. The University Hospital of the Canary Islands (HUC) is one of the facilities that has benefitted most from this increase in positions. This year, the HUC will welcome five new residents in specialties that were not previously available. Specifically, these include clinical biochemistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, microbiology and parasitology, and nuclear medicine. However, it has lost one position in plastic surgery, resulting in a net gain of four residents.
The Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital will also offer five new positions, although it will lose two in total. Specifically, this hospital centre has established new positions in oral and maxillofacial surgery, microbiology and parasitology, and nuclear medicine. Additionally, it has gained two new roles, one in orthopedic surgery and another in medical oncology.
Meanwhile, the Doctor Negrín University Hospital in Gran Canaria will add two positions to its training opportunities, with one in cardiovascular surgery and another in thoracic surgery; while the Insular-Maternal and Child University Hospital will introduce a neurosurgery position and gain one in endocrinology, albeit at the cost of one paediatric surgery position. Overall, this results in only a single additional resident compared to the previous year.
Despite the increase in positions, the significant demand from doctors has yet to be adequately addressed. This year, The Canary Islands will again offer the same number of places in family medicine and paediatrics. In this regard, the Archipelago will allocate 90 positions for family and community medicine and 21 for paediatrics.
Approaching exam day
This Saturday marks a significant day for the 1,222 candidates who will undertake the Specialized Health Training (FSE) exams. The Guajara Campus in Tenerife and the Tafira campus in Gran Canaria have been selected to host these tests, through which recent graduates will aim to secure one of the 460 positions available in the Canary Islands. However, only four out of every ten applicants will ultimately have the chance to stay on the Islands for their residency.
The scheduled exam time is set for 3:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. in the Canary Islands), commencing from 4:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. in the Canary Islands) and lasting four hours and 30 minutes. Candidates will not be permitted to start the exam until notified by the responsible personnel.
The examination will consist of 200 questions plus ten reserve; to ensure its smooth execution, over 2,000 individuals will be involved in various roles, including centre delegates, auditors, and examination table members, along with members of the seven qualifying commissions.
Subscribe to continue reading
